[STV-discuss] Fwd: OpenSTV - weights, eliminations?

[Jeffrey O'N. <jc...@co...>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Craig Seeman <sec...@op...>
Date: May 23, 2007 5:11 PM
Subject: Re: OpenSTV - weights, eliminations?
To: Jeffrey O'Neill <jc...@co...>


At 1:10 PM -0400 5/19/07, Jeffrey O'Neill wrote:
>Hi Craig,
>
>
>>I thought that might be the case reading through the various
>>descriptions of transfers and ties so I guess it might be good to add
>>that on the readout. Maybe "Tie broken by look back" or "Tie broken
>>by previous round total."
>
>Actually, that should happen.  I'm not sure why it didn't here.

Bug maybe? See email I just sent preceding this on another question/bug.

>
>>Also related to above is another form of voting I don't know the name
>>of. Example, there are 6 ballots cast for multiple candidates
>>(keeping things over simplified). Candidate A is named 1st on 3
>>ballots and not at all on 3 others. Candidate B is named 2nd on 6
>>ballots (has no 1st place votes and no ranking other than 2nd).
>>Candidate B, with no 1st place votes, would win with wider support
>>than Candidate A.
>
>This sounds similar to Condorcet or approval, both of which are
>included in OpenSTV.

Condorcet would be it for a single seat election. Slipped my mind.

There are also Borda variations you might consider adding in which
weights are not sequential. Baseball Writers Association uses 10, 7,
6, 5, . . .
Some might want to use 5, 3, 1 or 4, 2, 1

We had used Borda to elect County officers in one county since people
liked the idea of the lower rankings counting rather than being
dependent on a transfer.

We also used a modified form of Approval voting recently for seating
people on various committees.
People were able to case a Yes, blank (abstain) or No vote for any
number of candidates regardless of seats.
In the first round candidates with more No votes than Yes votes were
eliminated. In the second round only Yes votes were ranked. It was
done this so people could voice who they did not want to be seated on
a committee. People had mixed feelings about this method though so
that will change.

Example
Round 1
A 31-32
B 30-25
C 20-2

Round 2
A  eliminated
B 30 is seated
C 20 is seated

We've been doing a lot of experimentation with various voting system lately.

BTW some of us have formed a working group whose goal is to use NYC's
City Charter "quasi" initiative and referendum system to try to bring
back some form of PR to the City Council. We've been in contact with
Rob Richie at Fair Vote.

Craig Seeman
Secretary
GPNYS

>
>best,
>Jeff